The relationship between friction and wettability in aqueous environment

• Published in: Wear Vol. 271; no. 9; pp. 1745 - 1749
• Main Authors: Pawlak, Z., Urbaniak, W., Oloyede, A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 29.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Additives; Applied sciences; Aqueous environments; Biotribology; Coefficient of friction; Deltas; Exact sciences and technology; Friction; Friction, wear, lubrication; Hydrophilicity; Hydrophobicity; Interfacial energy; Lubrication; Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Wear; Wettability; Coefficient of friction; Wettability; Hydrophobicity; Hydrophilicity; Biotribology; Water; Hydrophobic compound; Hydrophily; Biomechanics; Friction; Aqueous medium; Lubricant additive; Friction coefficient; Lubrication; Aqueous solution; Tribology
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2010.12.084

In this study, the influence of surface wettability ( θ) and interfacial energy ( γ) on the coefficient of friction ( f) of tribopair surfaces in aqueous environment was investigated using a tribotester. The wettability behaviour of various tribopair surfaces [hydrophilic (HL) and hydrophobic (HB)]: (HL–HL), (HB–HB) and (HB–HL) was characterized by friction properties in water and aqueous two-phase lubricants (water + additive). The results show that the level of wettability of the tribopairs [the so-called delta wettability, Δ θ = ( θ Disc − θ Pin)] is related to friction coefficient ( f) in aqueous environment. In view of recent results, we conclude that both the interfacial energy and wettability of tribopair surfaces adequately characterize the lubrication processes.